Trick-or-treating in the halls of the mall

Oct. 31, 2013

Updated Nov. 1, 2013 11:25 a.m.

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Mika Tran, 3, of Westminster, gets an attack of shyness as she asks for a treat from Shahab Madari, owner of the Trendy Kids store at Westminster Mall. The City of Westminster sponsored the Halloween at the Mall event Thursday night. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A boy goes fishing for a treat at the fishing game sponsored by Westminster Senior Center during the Halloween at the Mall event Thursday night. Unseen by the kids, senior volunteers attached a treat to the fishing line after they cast the line over the board. The event, organized by the City of Westminster, featured trick-or-treating, games and prizes. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jonathan Grierson, 3, and his father Jonathan, wander the Westminster Mall looking for treats during the Halloween at the Mall event sponsored by the City of Westminster Thursday night. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Kids dressed in costumes wait for a turn at the bean bag toss during the Halloween at the Mall event sponsored by the City of Westminster Thursday night. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Swashbuckling Jackson Marsh, 2, of Westminster, tries his hand at the ring toss during the Halloween at the Mall event sponsored by the City of Westminster Thursday night. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Shahab Madari, right, owner of the Trendy Kids store at the Westminster Mall hands out candy to kids attending the Halloween at the Mall event Thursday night. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Mika Tran, 3, of Westminster, gets an attack of shyness as she asks for a treat from Shahab Madari, owner of the Trendy Kids store at Westminster Mall. The City of Westminster sponsored the Halloween at the Mall event Thursday night.PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

WESTMINSTER – It’s hard to talk with a mouth full of Tootsie Roll. So Shelby Rock instead nodded her approval of the games and candy she enjoyed on Halloween.

Shelby, a blonde 3-year-old wearing a shiny Supergirl costume, was among an estimated 2,000 children who along with their families spent Halloween afternoon and evening at the Westminster Mall.

For more than 20 years, the City of Westminster and the mall have partnered to hold Halloween festivities in the mall to provide a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.

Diana Dobbert, director of the city’s Community Services department, was one of the event organizers. She said being in a contained space is what makes the event appealing to parents.

City workers and high school student volunteers set up games and activities on a section of the mall’s ground floor, but the trick-or-treating spread throughout the building. Children and parents were given a list of the 29 stores that were handing out treats. In a mall, Dobbert said, families don’t have to worry about walking in the dark or having to dodge cars in the street.

The mall’s annual celebration was bustling with tiny tikes, their parents and their younger siblings in strollers dressed up for the occasion.

Shelby and her mom, Liz Rock, played many of the carnival games at the event including ring tossing and a play fishing booth. It was the first time they had celebrated Halloween at the mall. Rock, dressed as a witch, said she liked what she saw.

Last year Liz Rock took Shelby trick-or-treating by going door to door. She said it’s disappointing when some houses give out candy and others don’t.

Being able to shop after trick-or-treating was an added bonus, Rock said.

Shahab Madari’s store, Trendy Kids, a specialty kids clothing shop, has been in the mall for 18 years.

“I’ve been doing this for the past 18 years. It’s just a good family event and I like doing it for the kids,” he said.

The candy handed out at the event was donated to or purchased by the city.

Corey Jackson was appreciative of the organized event. He has a 3-year-old son, dressed as Batman, and a 1-year-old baby ballerina.

“Here we can focus on having fun. My son’s already tuckered out so we’ll just go home and straight to bed. So yeah it’s a great event,” he said.

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